Celebrate Shakespeare

Celebrate William Shakespeare's 450th Birthday

Shakespeare’s 450th birthday on April 23 begins the internationally recognized Shakespeare Quadricentennial Celebration through 2016, marking 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy since his death in 1616. On this occasion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Chicago’s cultural community heralds the prolific poet and playwright's lasting impact on our lives—through our everyday speech and in cultural institutions, schools and neighborhoods across the city. The following activities, events and performances offer a way for everyone, everywhere to bring Shakespeare into their lives:

To experience Shakespeare up close and personal, theatergoers can catch a performance of Henry V, beginning on April 29 and running through June 15 in CST's Courtyard Theater. This rousing finale to the 2014 season is directed by distinguished British director Christopher Luscombe in his Chicago debut. Confronted by the ferocity of war on the fields of Agincourt, the charming, freshly crowned King Henry must prove his worth as a man and king in the ultimate test of his leadership.

The Newberry hosts an exhibit of Shakespeare-related artifacts, including the Library's treasured First Folio and Barbara Gaines's personal annotated copy of the play script for Henry V from CST's inaugural production in 1986. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Produced by HMS Media, "Our City. Our Shakespeare." examines Chicago's special relationship with the world's most translated and performed playwright. By weaving together footage from theater, opera, dance and improv performances on Chicago's stages and interviews with civic and cultural leaders, theater critics and artists alike, it is clear that Shakespeare lives on in Chicago."Our City. Our Shakespeare." premieres on WTTW Channel 11.